The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs consistently delivers unexpected moments and compelling narratives. Each year, experienced teams aiming for deep runs face tough challenges just to advance from the first round. Sometimes, players acquired at the trade deadline to give a team an edge struggle to make the desired impact with their new club.
As a former NHL scout, I`m always fascinated by how young players perform during the most challenging part of the season. Veteran players are generally easier to predict in how they`ll handle the increased physicality and required attention to detail. But players just starting their careers or in their first few playoff appearances are still learning what it takes to win.
In this year`s playoffs, several “young guns” have already stood out to me in the first round.
For instance, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has shown his offensive skills while also indicating room for growth defensively. Toronto Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies continues to evolve and has been used in all situations for Toronto in their series against the Ottawa Senators.
So today I`m focusing on three other young players who have caught my attention for one reason or another in the opening round.
Kaiden Guhle, Montreal Canadiens
Guhle missed time with injury this year, and while the Canadiens` defense corps performed admirably in his absence, his presence on the blue line is invaluable.
Guhle averages around 22 minutes of ice time per game. He`s a two-way defenseman and an excellent skater who doesn`t shy away from physical play. He`s consistently matched up against top-six forwards. While he contributed secondary offense in the regular season (6G-12A in 55GP), it`s his defensive attention to detail that truly stands out.
Had he not missed significant time, he likely would have led Montreal`s defensemen in hits and shot blocks. He registered 104 hits and 124 blocks in the regular season, and this role has continued in the playoffs against Washington. Guhle has 12 shot blocks in that series.
I envision Guhle continuing to evolve and establish himself as Montreal`s top matchup defenseman. He`s signed to an extension kicking in next season, carrying a $5.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season. This contract should provide significant value to the team and age very well, as Guhle will only be 29 years old when it concludes.
Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
The Senators have been building towards being a playoff team for several years, and now that they`re here, they`ve challenged the Toronto Maple Leafs significantly in the first round. Sanderson`s play is a major reason for this.
Sanderson`s year-over-year defensive statistics declined this season compared to last, finishing with a minus-14 rating versus a plus-8 last year. However, this statistic is misleading given the difficult minutes Sanderson plays nightly for Ottawa. He averages over 24 minutes of ice time per game and is deployed in all situations, including matching up against top lines and power-play units.
So far in the series against Toronto, Sanderson`s average ice time has increased to nearly 28 minutes per game. This rise is largely due to three of the four games going into overtime, but it also underscores Sanderson`s critical importance to Ottawa`s success. He leads the team with eight shot blocks and scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 4. Sanderson is an elite skater who quarterbacks the power play and actively engages defensively.
Here are two simple examples of the finer details I`ve seen in Sanderson`s game during these playoffs:
In the first example, he`s quarterbacking the Senators` power play. Puck placement is a crucial aspect of being an efficient power play distributor. For a player on the flank to one-time a shot, they depend on the quarterback passing the puck into their “wheelhouse.” In this instance, Sanderson places the puck perfectly for Tim Stutzle.
The second example shows Sanderson battling his check, Calle Jarnkrok, in front of the Ottawa net in the final seconds of Game 4 with the score tied 3-3. There`s nothing spectacular about this play, but it illustrates how straightforward the game can be when a defenseman is positioned correctly. In this instance, it leads to a routine shot block at a crucial time.
The Ottawa Senators are a team on the ascent, and a significant part of their future success depends on Sanderson. Sens fans have reason to be excited, as Sanderson is signed through 2032 on a contract that should age well. A player of Sanderson`s value signed to a deal carrying an $8.05 million cap hit against a rising salary cap is a significant win for the organization.
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Compared to Guhle and Sanderson, Boldy is a playoff veteran. He had already played 12 playoff games for the Wild before their series against Vegas began.
Boldy`s overall game has evolved significantly. In the regular season, he led Minnesota with 27 goals and 73 points, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game, primarily at even strength and on the power play. He was only occasionally used on the penalty kill.
In this first-round series against Vegas, he is being deployed in all situations and averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game. The Wild`s coaching staff clearly trusts him more than in the past, and he`s being rewarded with more ice time in high-leverage scenarios.
In Boldy`s first 12 playoff games before this series, he recorded 1 goal, 3 assists, and was a minus-6. So far against Vegas, he has contributed 4 goals, 2 assists, and is a plus-3. His average time on ice now includes a role on the penalty kill, where he averages 2:28 per game.
Here`s an example of what I`m describing when observing the overall detail Boldy is providing the Wild so far in the playoffs.
In this clip Boldy engages defensively to protect the crease area. When the play moves out to his check he fronts the shooter for the shot block. The puck eventually ends up on Kirill Kaprizov’s stick and he makes an unbelievable sauce pass to Boldy who is exploding through the neutral zone.
Similar to Guhle and Sanderson, Boldy is signed long-term in Minnesota. His contract carries a $7 million cap hit and runs until the end of the 2029-30 season.
With the way his entire game is evolving, beyond just the offensive ability he`s already demonstrated, it`s a contract that should provide immense return on investment for the Wild.
